Lea J. Mertens: Psilocybin for depression – Results from the EPIsoDE Trial | Webinar November 11th 2025

Psilocybin is rigorously researched in the treatment of depressive disorders, including treatment-resistant depression. There are currently phase 3 trials ongoing, and it could be the first psychedelic to be approved for medical use by the FDA and EMA.

In the next webinar organized by the Finnish Association for Psychedelic Research, PhD researcher and psychotherapist Lea J. Mertens will discuss the EPIsoDE Trial, an academic phase 2b trial that was conducted between June 2021 and December 2023 at two German university hospitals. The study investigated the safety and efficacy of 25 mg psilocybin in comparison to an active placebo (nicotinamide) and a low-dose (5 mg) psilocybin. With 144 patients, the study ranks among the largest clinical psychedelic trials to date.

The talk will describe the study and address the special features of the study design, its rationale and the key study results. Lea will also talk about her personal experiences as a study therapist, and discuss open research questions for subsequent trials.

The webinar will take place on Tuesday November 11th at 6PM UTC+2. The event contains a Q&A section and the total length is 2 hours. 

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About the speaker:

Lea J. Mertens, M.Sc., is a research associate and PhD candidate in the Department of Molecular Neuroimaging at the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) and a licensed psychotherapist („Psychologische Psychotherapeutin“). As part of her research activities at the CIMH since 2018, she has been working as a lead scientist and therapist in the EPIsoDE study.

Prior to this, she completed her Research M.Sc. in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience with a focus on neuropsychology at Maastricht University and her B.Sc. in Psychology at Leiden University. Among others, she gained relevant research experience at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London under the supervision of Dr. Robin Carhart-Haris. Her scientific interests lie at the intersection of clinical psychology, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapeutic mechanisms. She has contributed to several scientific publications – read more here.